TOXICS INFORMATION PROJECT (TIP)
P.O. Box 40572, Providence, RI 02906
Tel. 401-351-9193, E-Mail: TIP@toxicsinfo.org
Website: www.toxicsinfo.org
ASK ABOUT OUR NEW TIP “PET CONCERNS” GROUP
by Sylvie Farrell
of Mothers & Others, with reporting by Aisha Ikramuddin
http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0696/et0696s4.html
As my two terriers frolic in their new farmhouse and run
wild on two acres of land (they let my husband and me live there, too), we find
ourselves doing epic battle with possibly the greatest nuisance known to man
and beast: fleas! Mind you, Sophie and Hamlet's previous life in a New York
City apartment did not exempt them from these biting buggers. One thing all pet owners must come to grips
with: if you are going to own pets with hair - whether in or out of doors - you
are going to have fleas. Once you resign yourself to this, you can set about
controlling your flea population without resorting to chemical warfare.
Most chemically-based products pose a real danger to the
health of your pet, your kids and yourself. After all, a pesticide flea collar
is nothing but a poison necklace around your pet's head. It emits a constant
toxic cloud that your pet inhales, as do you and your kids every time you hug
or kiss your pet. And what about those insecticidal
flea and tick shampoos and powders, sprays and dips? Labels warn you not to get
them on your skin, to use rubber gloves and wash your hands. Yet the
instructions also tell you to work them into your animal's coat, where they
absorb into your pet's skin and are licked!
This is not the answer. As Alisa Mullins reported in Animal Times magazine (July/August 1995), she accidentally poisoned her cat, Pepper, to death with flea dips, powders and shampoos. Signs of pesticide overdose in your pet can include vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, seizures and respiratory problems. Check labels carefully, advises Mullins, who now uses only non-toxic flea remedies on her cats and dogs. As for pet owners who apply these pesticides to their pets, the California Senate Office of Research has warned against exposure to pesticides during pregnancy or infancy, which may impair neurological development and contribute to childhood leukemia.
Flea collars. The Cancer Prevention Coalition (CPC),
which informs the public about preventable exposures to carcinogens, lists many
brand-name products as containing either carcinogens or neurotoxins, or both.
These include certain flea collars by Longlife, Hartz, Pet Agree, Sergeant's and Zodiac. In addition,
several of these products may have adverse reproductive effects.
Flea & tick dips, sprays, powders, foggers and bombs. Foggers
and bombs are flammable, and poison the atmosphere so pervasively that they
should be completely avoided. One infamous flea-and-tick repellent, Hartz Mountain Blockade, caused 26 known pet deaths in 1987
and at least 200 dog and cat poisonings. The EPA forced Hartz
to list warnings about tremors and vomiting on the label, but Blockade, which
contains the pesticides DEET and fenvalerate, is
still on the market.
According to the Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC), an
environmental organization working to reduce reliance on toxic chemicals, other
active ingredients in anti-flea products include dichlorvos
(or DDVP, found in Duokill, No-Pest, and Duravos), propoxur, diazinon and carbaryl nerve
poisons that may cause adverse, long-term health effects in both pets and
humans.
What doesn't appear on labels, due to "trade-secret" laws, are the inert ingredients - solvents and petrochemicals that make up to 90 percent of a pesticide's mix and are often toxic. These toxic substances include xylene, methyl bromide, benzene, asbestos, DDT (a by-product of the manufacture of certain pesticides) and toluene. The New York State Attorney General's office has listed some of the effects of toluene as including headache, abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, hallucinations, anemia, liver disorders, central nervous system dysfunction and skin, eye and respiratory irritation. Many of these symptoms have been found among flea dip users in a survey conducted by the California Department of Health Services Hazard Evaluation System.
CPC lists the following products in their chronic health advisory column as
containing carcinogens or neurotoxins, or both:
Ace Hardware Pet & Home Flea & Tick Killer; Cardinal Flea &
Tick Shampoo 118 and Shampoo for Cats and Kittens; Daltek
Timed-Release for Cats and Kittens and Organic (sic) Flea Spray for Cats and
Dogs; Enforcer Flea & Tick Powder, Shampoo and Spray; Flea Stop Pet; Four
Paws Flea and Tick Shampoo and Foam Dry Bath.
NOTE: CPC measures all the above products in various ways. Some pose "minimal risk"; CPC advises "caution" against using others at all. "Minimal risk doesn't mean you should use a product frequently - there can be cumulative effects," says Keith Ashdown, outreach director of CPC. For more detailed information, including exact names and product numbers, write CPC with your question or buy their Safe Shopper's Bible (520 N. Michigan Ave., Ste 410, Chicago IL 60611).
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
(PETA), the publisher of Animal Times, has compiled a non-toxic, six-step
regimen for attacking - and winning - the battle of the flea that I have used
with total success for years - even when I lived in California and my dogs lived
outdoors during summers of epidemic fleas.
Pet diet and skin care. Feed
your pets fresh, whole foods - try to avoid meat by-products, preservatives and
artificial colorings. Add either
brewer's or nutritional yeast, fresh garlic or flaxseed oil (found at health
food stores) to pet food for skin health and flea repellent. My dogs Sophie and
Hamlet love the taste.
I
use PETA's recipe for the skin: slice up two lemons
and pour nearly boiling water over them, then soak overnight. The next day, strain the liquid and pour into
a spray bottle. The dogs get spritzed liberally and
then the solution is massaged into their coats. Citrus oil kills and repels
fleas and the pooches smell great, too.
I spray their bedding, as well. Cats hate to be sprayed and find citrus
offensive, so for felines, make a solution of one ounce pennyroyal oil (also
found at health food stores) with 18 ounces of water. Sponge this solution onto
kitty and massage it into the coat. You
can also spray dogs with this solution - they don't mind. WARNING: Be sure to dilute pennyroyal - it can be
toxic to pets if used alone. Skin that is irritated from scratching and flea
bites can be soothed by applying aloe vera, nature's
miracle healer.
Treatment for your house and yard. Most flea eggs are laid on bedding, not the living host. So commit to vacuuming rugs, floor cracks and furniture frequently, every two to three days, during the peak flea seasons - summer and fall - especially if there is an abundance of rain. Flea eggs can still hatch in the vacuum bag, so invest in extra bags and change them after each use. In severe cases, rugs should be steam-cleaned.
May 5th is "Be Kind to Pets Week": give
your pets the gift of cedar-filled beds, which repel fleas, with removable
covers that you can launder often. You
can also place sticky paper flea traps and a small light bulb in a darkened
room to attract fleas. For the yard, WTC
recommends beneficial nematodes - tiny worms that infect and kill flea
larvae. They can eliminate over 90
percent of larvae in 24 hours following the first application.
Anti-flea
sachets. Fleas detest the scent of
lavender, mint, rosemary, sweet woodruff and cedar: use sachets of these
fragrances between couch cushions.
Pet baths. Bathe pets with
gentle herbal shampoos. Pesticide
shampoos are overkill, since simple soap and water will kill fleas if the soap
is left on for about 5-8 minutes.
Flea combs. Use a fine-toothed
flea comb to catch fleas, dipping comb into a bowl of soapy water after each
sweep through your pet's fur.
Low-toxicity pesticides.
In cases of overwhelming infestation, try low-toxicity pesticides
derived from natural sources. Pyrethrum,
or pyrethrins (crushed chrysanthemum blossoms), is
toxic to humans, pets and beneficial insects.
However, WTC recommends Pet and Premise, an insecticidal
soap made by Safer, Inc., which contains small amounts of pyrethrums that do
not pose great risks. It is available in
retail stores. Permaguard,
by Pristine Products, combines diatomaceous earth with pyrethrins,
and can be used on carpets, pets and outdoors in the grass. NOTE: not to be confused with the synthetic pyrethroids, which are potent neurotoxins.
Limonene, a
frequently-recommended extract from mandarin orange and lemon peels, has caused
tumors in male rats, according to WTC, which advises using shampoos or area
sprays containing linalool, another citrus derivative, instead. However, linalool can cause respiratory
problems and should be used outdoors or with good ventilation.
Diatomaceous earth (DE) kills fleas by drying them
out. DE, a non-toxic, chalky powder made
of fossilized algae, can be sprinkled on carpets and lawns. It can be found in garden supply stores. CAUTION: DE is a lung irritant if inhaled.
As an alternative to the "poison
necklace," Natural Animal, Solid Gold, Nature's Best and Nature's Way
herb-based flea collars have as their active ingredients different combinations
of eucalyptus, citronella, pennyroyal, rue, cedar, sesame, and natural
fragrances. While the herbs don't
actually kill fleas, they can repel them.
Approached
systematically, the all-natural approach to non-toxic pet care is easy, truly
effective and the only way to go if you care about the health of your pets,
your family and the planet
(not to mention yourself).
To join Mothers and Others, send a tax-deductible
contribution of $25. Members will
receive a year's subscription to The Green Guide, regular legislative and
program updates, and free information in response to your queries. Mail to: 40 W. 20th Street. New York, NY
10011-4211.